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Welcome to Morcan Books & Films, the blog devoted to providing a unique perspective and intelligent commentary on books and films. It includes commentary on our own books and films – i.e. novels and screenplays co-written by the Morcans, and feature films produced by, or in development with, Morcan Motion Pictures.
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THE DOGON INITIATIVE (The Deniables, Book 1) currently has a 4.8 star rating (out of 5 stars) on Amazon and a 4.6 star rating on Goodreads, showing that reviewers are resonating with this new release novel by New Zealand father-and-son writing team Lance and James Morcan.

Co-authors of the bestselling historical adventures WHITE SPIRIT and INTO THE AMERICAS, and the thrillers SILENT FEAR and THE ORPHAN TRILOGY, the Morcans say their latest novel and the series it has spawned, or is about to spawn, were inspired by the belief American intelligence contracts foreign mercenaries to undertake clandestine missions abroad.

“They’re known as deniable assets,” Lance explains. “Deniable because, if a mission goes belly up, the agency will deny any knowledge of their existence and no-one’s to their assistance. For obvious reasons, we refer to the assets as the Deniables.”

James say book one in the series shows how the CIA’s New Paradigms Team, a newly-formed humanitarian division of the agency, is tasked with saving Mali’s persecuted Dogon people from genocide.

He continues, “Although fictional, we consider it’s not too unlikely the CIA is pursuing humanitarian goals, and, with that in mind, that’s the basis of the entire series. Each book will focus on the Deniables’ latest mission.”

In our new action-adventure THE DOGON INITIATIVE (The Deniables, Book 1), the CIA is intent on obtaining proof that the Dogon of West Africa possess ancient knowledge – knowledge that predates modern astronomy.

Early in the novel, two key members of the agency’s New Paradigms Team lobby their superior to order the Deniables taskforce to photograph cave paintings of the Sirius star system in the Dogon’s homeland in Mali.

Excerpt follows:

Catrell placed a tablet she was holding on the desktop in front of the senior agent. On its screen was a photo of a cave painting.

“This is a painting that accurately depicts the Sirius star system… One of many such paintings to be found in the caves along the Bandiagara Escarpment, in the Dogon homeland. Pointing at a smaller star on the system’s periphery, she added, “And this Sirius B, the white dwarf companion star of Sirius A and the star said to be invisible to the human eye.”

“Said to be?” Daley asked.

“Modern day astronomers assure us that is the case,” said Catrell, “but the Dogon believe their forefathers have known of its existence for centuries. They insist that Moussa’s ancient forefather, the original Moussa Diarra, first discovered it… Long before the invention of telescopes.”

“So this so-called invisible white dwarf star can be seen in the cave paintings,” Daley said to himself. “I assume they’ve been carbon-dated?”

“They have,” said Catrell, “but carbon dating of cave paintings can be an inexact science.”

“Which is why sourcing and authenticating a painting that features ancient Egyptian hieroglyphics would seal the deal as far as present-day academics are concerned,” said Einhorn re-joining the discussion. “It would prove beyond doubt that, one, the painting is truly ancient, and, two, the Dogon have knowledge that predates modern astronomy.”

Daley formed a steeple with his fingers to rest his chin upon as he surveyed the two agents and considered their pitch.

At length he said, “Remind me why this is so important.”

“Because it would support the theory that the Dogon have unexplained knowledge,” said Einhorn. “Such a revelation would reflect well on a people considered by the ill-informed to be little more than ignorant desert nomads and cave-dwellers.”

“And the unearthing of such knowledge could well have benefits for all Mankind,” Catrell quickly added.

“And you want me to order our taskforce in Mali to locate the mystery cave in question and photograph or film the mystery painting after they reach Tireli?” Daley said.

The two agents nodded.

“Why wait until now to drop this on me?” the senior agent asked.

“We’ve been primarily focused on the logistics of the Dogon Initiative up to this point,” Catrell explained. “Only now are we able to focus on the humanitarian issues.”

Daley accepted that explanation.

The women waited in silence while their superior considered what they were asking of him. They had nothing more to say. They’d delivered their best pitch. Now it was up to Daley.

Finally, the senior agent nodded.

“Very well,” he said, “you’ve convinced me.” He indicated the meeting was over and motioned to his subordinates to leave. Before they reached the door, he mumbled, “Oh… good pitch by the way.”

Quote from White Spirit: “To understand the Dreamtime, you must understand that we do not own the land. The land is our mother and she owns and nurtures us.” –Old Aboriginal saying.

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story).

When Irish convict John Graham escaped Australia’s Moreton Bay penal settlement only to be captured by a remote tribe of Aborigines who had never seen a white man before, he couldn’t have known what adventures lay before him.

At first, the natives thought Graham a white spirit, one of their own returned from the dead. And he considered them backward, bloodthirsty savages.

As the years passed, he became lover to the beguiling Aboriginal woman who ‘identified’ him as her late husband, and he became a father to her two children. He also came to realise the natives who had adopted him were people who harboured the same hopes, dreams and desires as himself.

Over this period, John Graham was never forgotten by the beautiful young Englishwoman he’d left behind. He was also tracked relentlessly by a native the British Army called the Tracker.

White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) is available via Amazon as a paperback and Kindle ebook: https://www.amazon.com/White-Spirit-novel-based-story-ebook/dp/B01LWIRH9J/

Bestselling INTO THE AMERICAS (A novel based on a true story) is a tale of two vastly different cultures, indigenous North American and European civilization, colliding head on. It is also a Romeo and Juliet story set in the wilderness.

Nineteen year-old English seaman John Jewitt is one of only two survivors after his crewmates clash with the fierce Mowachaht tribe in the Pacific Northwest. A life of slavery awaits John and his fellow survivor, a belligerent American sailmaker, in a village ruled by the iron fist of Maquina, the all-powerful chief. Desperate to taste freedom again, they make several doomed escape attempts over mountains and sea. Only their value to the tribe and John’s relationship with Maquina prevents their captors from killing them.

As the seasons pass, John ‘goes Indian’ after falling in love with Eu- stochee, a beautiful maiden. In the bloodshed that follows, John discovers another side to himself – a side he never knew existed and a side he detests.

The stakes rise when John learns Eu-stochee is pregnant. When a final opportunity to escape arises, he must choose between returning to civilization or staying with Eu-stochee and their newborn son.

The novel was inspired by the diary entries of young English blacksmith John Jewitt during his time aboard the brigantine The Boston, and also during his sojourn at Nootka Sound, on North America’s western seaboard, from 1802 to 1805.

INTO THE AMERICAS has been adapted to a feature film screenplay and the planned movie is in early development with Morcan Motion Pictures. Expressions of interest are welcome from experienced film producers and directors.

Like this:

The man the Fijians knew as the Shark Caller stood chest deep in water out in the bay. Amongst the villagers on the sandy shore, Nathan and Susannah watched intrigued as the old man began chanting. They gasped as a huge fin sliced through the water toward the Shark Caller.

Turning to Nathan, Susannah whispered, “That will be the Great White.”

Nathan couldn’t take his eyes off the drama unfolding.

The fin veered away only yards short of the Shark Caller who continued chanting as the shark began circling him.

More fins appeared, smaller than the Great White’s. They, too, circled the Shark Caller, who appeared oblivious to the danger. Wild cheering broke out among the onlookers. Nathan could hardly believe his eyes.

Susannah, shouting to be heard, said, “The Great White answers the call of the Shark Caller. It brings other sharks with it.”

Men waiting aboard canoes in the shallows began paddling furiously out from the beach to intercept the sharks.

In the lead canoe, Joeli and Waisale reached down and hauled the still-chanting Shark Caller from the water. The crews of the other canoes set about killing as many sharks as they could.

You have been reading an excerpt from Fiji: A Novel, an adventure-romance set in 19th Century Fiji.

Our historical adventure White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) features as the February Giveaway on multi-genre author and blogger Marie Lavender’s popular book lovers’ blog at http://bit.ly/2BMt0ST — Three Kindle copies are on offer. Be in to win! Entries close Feb.12th.

Our latest historical adventure White Spirit (A novel based on a true story) has been selected by Amazon for its 12 Days of Kindle holiday sale – underway now!

Based on the remarkable true story of Irish convict John Graham, White Spirit is an epic historical adventure set in 19th Century Australia. After escaping from the notorious Moreton Bay Penal Settlement, Graham finds refuge with the Kabi, a tribe of Aborigines who eventually accept him as one of their own. He is sustained by the love of two women – one black, one white.